I've been writing and editing sports and business news for three decades, covering the World Series and the NCAA Basketball Tournament. I've also been a voter for the Baseball Hall of Fame for nearly 20 years. I most recently worked for Thestreet.com and CNBC.com.

Manhattan's Steve Masiello An Exception, Not The Rule, Says Expert

The amazing revelation last week that Manhattan basketball coach Steve Masiello lied on his resume about receiving a degree at Kentucky makes one wonder how many other coaches falsify their documents.

Jed Hughes, vice chair and head of the global sports practice at Korn/Ferry, said, “I don’t think it’s a major issue. It’s a one-off not a trend. He’s an outlier.” Masiello will be reinstated as head coach once he completes his degree this summer, the school announced.

Masiello, who was exposed through a background check by the University of South Florida after being hired as its new coach, isn’t the first to lose a job for padding a resume. In 2001, George O’Leary was hired as Notre Dame’s football coach but was forced to resign after several inaccuracies were discovered in his resume. Last year it was also revealed that Rutgers’ basketball coach Eddie Jordan never received the degree the school claimed he had.

O’Leary has made a grand recovery leading Central Florida to a BCS bowl victory in January. But Hughes say it will be more difficult for Masiello. “I think he’s going to have trouble getting another job. He may have to be an NBA assistant or something like that,” he said. If another school does hire him, Hughes said it would have to be stipulated that he finish his degree.

But is it necessary for college coaches to have degrees if they have proven they can perform at a high level as Masiello has? Hughes said, “I believe in higher education. We want our student-athletes to get a degree so, if the coach doesn’t have one, it’s a little hypocritical.”

Hughes pointed out the falsifying of resumes isn’t just a sports problem but one seen in corporate America as well, even at the CEO level. Harking back to an old game show, it’s better to tell the truth up front or you will most likely face the consequences later.

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Hiring processes have requirements, period. Considering any given industry, are all of the posted job requirements necessary for a candidate who can “…perform at a high level”? Likely not. The requirements are the requirements. If a person doesn’t think they are reasonable they are free to apply elsewhere for employment. As a former coach I was well aware of degree requirements – so I got a degree, then a masters. I did what I needed to do in my industry to be a qualified candidate. What I did not do was question the requirements and try to circumnavigate them.

Agreed, Gordon. However, there are some schools where a degree is not required to be a head coach. Some strangely are state universities. Shouldn’t the standard be the same? Just wondering. Thanks for your comment. Dave.

I’d be curious to review your sources for the comment about some universities not requiring degrees for head coaching applicants. Can you cite that for my edification please?

For the moment let’s assume the statement is accurate – some do, some do not. If that is the case then Coach Masiello is welcome to apply to the schools that do not require degree for that is his chosen level of qualification (free will and whatnot). That would be what I would call a sensible occupational approach.

You ask if there should be a standard, meaning shouldn’t all universities either require a degree for coaching or not require a degree for coaching. Perhaps. I’m not sure we can expect 298 DI schools that do not have standardized admissions policies or standardized tuition to enact a universal requirement for coaching qualifications.

Well, Rutgers, the state university of New Jersey, does not require its coaches to have degrees which is why Eddie Jordan was allowed to remain. That is a fact. I am not sure of others but have to think RU isn’t the only one. Dave.